Tracer Gas Accumulation Test Method

The accumulation method is comparable to a sniffing leak test. Tracer gas escaping the test part is allowed to accumulate in an enclosure that surrounds the part at atmospheric pressure. The accumulated tracer gas is then mixed and sampled by a mass spectrometer.

The accumulation test has advantages in that it does not require expensive vacuum chambers or vacuum pumps. It also tests for overall part leakage, unlike the sniffing method. This test method can detect leaks as small as 1 x 10-5 atm- cc/sec, depending on the size of the part and requisite cycle time.

As with the hard-vacuum method, production rates vary with the accumulation method, from 25 seconds per part to 600 parts per seven-hour shift, depending on the configuration of the system (single chamber, dual chamber, etc.). And, as with the hard- vacuum method, parts can be loaded and unloaded manually or robotically, depending upon the size and weight of the test part. Automatic tooling features are also available to facilitate connection and sealing.

Vacuum Instruments Corporation is a pioneer in providing state-of-the-art leak detection solutions for diverse applications and industries. Our systems have ensured the safety and performance of countless products that we use in our daily lives from the cars we drive to the air conditioners in our houses, the pacemakers in our bodies, and the satellites we launch into space.